Entry-exit system news: everything British travellers need to know about EES and Etias for 2025 holidays

The entry-exit system (EES) — a new digital system set to replace passport stamping — has been given a new start date of October 2025 by the EU commission. 

This is a progressive start date, and it is not currently clear when the system will be fully operational.

What is the new entry-exit system?

The first phase of EES will mean that non-EU citizens, including British travellers, will be fingerprinted or have a facial photograph taken the first time they cross the border into the Schengen zone for short stays. This information will be stored in a digital file, and verified by border guards whenever you cross the border again in future.

This system will replace passport stamping, and will help the EU to more closely track whether travellers are respecting the EU’s 90/180 day rule — a rule which means British travellers cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any stretch of 180 days.

The system, which has been postponed several times, will eventually require British travellers to have all biometric information (both fingerprints and face scans) checked every time they enter any of 30 European countries for a short stay. 

Because the system will be rolled out in October 2025, it will not affect summer holidays this year. Children under 12 will be exempt.

Weeks prior to the planned introduction of the EES we carried out a survey that showed huge confusion about what it would entail.

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What is the EES app, also known as the Travel to Europe App?

The EU has created an app called Travel to Europe that allows travellers to pre-register their passport information and facial image before arriving at border crossing points. It is not yet available for download, and the UK has not confirmed whether it will participate in using this app as part of Entry/Exit border controls. 

How will EES affect the travel by Eurostar and Eurotunnel?

According to the UK Government website, Eurostar expects EES registration to be quick and easy. It will have 50 kiosks across three locations at stations for people to carry out the checks.

It says that Eurotunnel will have at least 100 kiosks, and currently estimates that EES checks will add 'just over five minutes to journey times'. Port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets.

What is Etias, and how will it work?

Another new change British travellers should prepare for is the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias). 

This launch of this system has also also been postponed several times, and there is still no set launch date. The European Commission has confirmed that it expects this to happen within the last three months of 2026, and only after the launch of EES. This is because the Etias system will rely on information from EES. 

When Etias launches in late 2026, there will be a ‘transition period’ of at least six months, where it will not yet be mandatory for British travellers to have an Etias when entering the EU, provided that they meet all remaining entry conditions. It is yet not clear whether travellers will need to prove that they have applied for an Etias during the grace period.

After that transition period, there will be a further grace period, during which only travellers entering the EU for the first time since the end of the transition period will be allowed to enter without an Etias. 

After that, all UK passport-holders will need a visa-waiver to visit any countries in Europe’s passport-free zone, the Schengen Area.

Holidaymakers will need to apply online and pay a fee of €7 (around £6) before travelling. The authorisation is expected to be valid for three years, or until your passport expires. 

Similar to America’s Esta system, Etias will allow citizens from 63 visa-exempt countries to visit the Schengen Zone with an electronic authorisation rather than a full visa. This includes the UK, which is considered a third country since Brexit. 

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How will travellers apply for an Etias visa-waiver?

UK passport-holders will have to fill in an online application form via Etias’s official website or app and upload a photo of their passport. The European Commission has promised that the vast majority of travellers will receive their visa waiver within minutes. If further checks are needed, it could take up to 30 days.

Can I apply for the Etias visa waiver already?

It's not currently possible to register for an Etias travel authorisation. Confusingly, there are already a number of non-official websites sharing information about Etias. They may look similar to official government websites, and may offer you the opportunity to sign up for a notification when the scheme begins. But it's always best to get your information straight from the European Union website. 

Be wary of third-party sites offering to do the leg-work for you, and remember that the expected fee should be €7.

When does Etias start? 

The European Commission expects the scheme to start within the last few months of 2026. Exact launch dates are yet to be confirmed.

After this date, there will be a transition period of at least six months, during which travellers are expected to have applied for an Etias before travel, but won’t be refused entry without one, so long as they meet all other entry requirements. It is not clear whether travellers will be expected to prove that they have applied for an Etias.

After that, there will be another grace period, again of at least six months. During this time, only travellers entering the EU for the first time since the end of the transition period will be allowed to enter without an Etias. All other travellers will be refused entry without an Etias.

How much will an Etias visa-waiver cost?

It’s expected to cost €7 (around £6) for all travellers between the ages of 18 and 70. Children's travel authorisations will be free.

How long will it be valid for?

An Etias travel authorisation will be valid for three years, or until the expiry date of your passport. British passport-holders can stay in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You still need a visa for longer stays.

What is the difference between an Etias travel authorisation and a visa?

An Etias travel authorisation is not officially a visa. Its purpose is to allow the EU to keep track of visa-exempt visitors from third countries, which includes UK passport-holders since Brexit. Travellers will not need to go to a consulate to make an application, and no biometric data will be collected.

Where will I need an Etias authorisation to travel to? 

You will need the Etias visa-waiver to travel to all of the below states:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

It is not currently clear whether travellers will need one to visit non-Schengen microstates such as Andorra or Monaco.